THE STAR REPORTS

Ins and outs of Davey's drop battle



BARNSLEY boss Simon Davey can't escape it. Whichever way he turns on his route to dodge relegation, he will leave behind some disappointed players.

Competition for places in the team can't be a bad thing but its spin-off is discontent among the men dropped or passed over.
Davey has to see the bigger picture - salvaging Champion-ship survival - and that means some big decisions.
First and foremost, what does he do with new signings Lewin Nyatanga and Ritchie Jones?
It's certain that both will be in the squad at Southampton tomorrow.
Davey unceremoniously dropped centre-back Antony Kay after the 2-0 loss at Cardiff City.
His replacement, Rob Atkinson, could well go the same way after the 3-0 defeat by Colchester if Nyatanga gets his debut.
Jones is an attacking midfielder. Yes, another one.
Manchester United don't loan out players for them not to play games.
Davey surely can't drop top scorer Brian Howard so that leaves Martin Devaney, Grant McCann, Kyel Reid, Dwayne Mattis and Sam Togwell on the 'at risk' list.
Davey went with Mattis against Colchester last week, putting Togwell on the bench. Kyel Reid took over from Mattis for the final half-hour with McCann and Howard in the middle and Devaney on the right. Davey will almost certainly tinker again tomorrow with Jones at least a candidate for the bench.
Finally, Hungarian duo Peter Rajczi and Istvan Ferenczi may well start their first game together in Barnsley shirts. Rajczi got his full debut against Colchester and Ferenczi was a late sub who brought presence to an out-of-sorts team.
Davey ditched Daniel Nardielllo for the first time in his management career to play Rajczi with Marc Richards.
If Ferenczi is asked to step up to the plate tomorrow for the Reds, Richards looks set to be sacrificed.

 

Very interesting.

The star is saying they cant work out the team he gunna pick.

Wonder if he knows.....

 

Got to be Nyatanga in, the two Hungarians up front and a recall for Togwell.

Ritchie Jones hasn't played since November so may be on the bench.

 

Nothing wrong with that. Just telling it like it is if you ask me!

Colgan

Eckersley, Reid(P), Nyatanga, Hassell

Reid(K), Jones, Howard, Devaney

Steve, Pete

Subs: Lucas, Atkinson, McCann, Togwell, Richards

Sorry Guys: Nardiello, Mattis, Heckinbottom, Hayes............

If Davey has a selection problem it's of his own making!

 

How can they

After last week i am certain that Mr Davey puts the names in the hat and draws then out

 

He needs to change team tomorrow

I wonder if the players really 'buy in' to Davey. He doesnt seem to have the same approach to Ritchie. Competion for places has got to be a good thing

I would go for

Colgan
Hassell Reid New lad Eckersley
Devaney, Togwell, Jones, Howard

Steve & Peter

Subs
Lucas
K Reid
McCann
Kay/Austin
Nardiello

 

Thats not faor off my team below but I wonder if Davey is think similar thoughts?

 

I doubt it!

 

The team for Tomorrow

Lucas

Eckersley, P. Reid, Nyatanga, Hassell

Howard, Togwell, Jones, Devaney

Steve, Pete

Subs: Colgan, Atkinson, McCann, K. Reid, Hayes


Nardia and Richards should not be allowed near the ground

PS.............we need a settled team

 

So in the space of two weeks, Antony Kay has gone from being the most improved and consistent player in the squad, to not even being considered for the bench. It stinks to me.

 

PETER HASN'T TRAVELLED - GOT FLUY nt

 

PETER HASN'T TRAVELLED - GOT FLU! nt

 

Competition for places is a good thing, but when someone rates Reid above Kay, you know you're in trouble.

 

Kay has been better over the season but was poor in his last 3 games and was responsible for both goals at Cardiff whilst Reidy has improved over the last month. Rob Atkinson has done well when he has played.

I would go with Reid and Nyatanga on Saturday but I wouldnt exlude Kay all together. I would have Kay on the bench.

 

In his last 3 games he wasn't poor. Not at all.

We won 2 of those games keeping a clean sheet in both victories. Kay was a big part of the defence that kept those clean sheets. He made one mistake at Cardiff directing a poor header into the path of Chopra, which resulted in a goal against us, but to blame him for the other goal is harsh. I don't think it should have been given as a free kick.

He's had a great season for Barnsley, but it seems that one mistake means he's frozen out of the team. That's rank bad management in my opinion and a sure fire way of alienating one of our better players.

 

RE: In his last 3 games he wasn't poor. Not at all.

At Luton he was ring rusty after not playing the previous couple of games.

Against QPR he was giving stupid freekicks away and generally living on the edge and against Cardiff he was Crap.

I think Antony is a very good player and much improved on previous seasons however he has been poor recently.

 

Good job we dropped him

and allowed Colchester to waltz through our defence at will and score three then.

 

RE: Good job we dropped him

We would still have conceded the 3 goals with Antony in the team as 1st one was a mistake by Eckersley, 2nd Howard/McCann messed around in midfield and 3rd they all backed off.